The Best Eyebrow Pencils Of 2023, According To Amazon Reviews
Full and bushy, slim and defined, natural and softly tapered — whatever #browgoals looks like to you, an eyebrow pencil is the key to making it happen. Brow pencils have a long history, dating back to ancient Egypt and eventually becoming a commercial success a — can you believe it? — century ago. Flash forward to today, and the options are practically limitless. That's a good thing for your eyebrows but not so good for your bank account, especially if you've already collected numerous pencils that have all seemed to fall short.
To help you sort through the clutter (and spend your beauty budget wisely), we've compiled the best eyebrow pencils of 2023, all available and highly rated on Amazon. To narrow down the top products, we scoured the reviews on the online mega-retailer, only selecting the pencils that have passed the test of everyday customers and beauty fanatics alike. After all, your brows deserve better than a three-star product. Now excuse us while we go fill our Amazon carts.
Best overall eyebrow pencil: Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil
Maybelline has been in the brow-enhancing game since the 1910s, and it shows. The drugstore brand has launched numerous eyebrow products over the years, and one of the favorites among Amazon shoppers is its Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil. The item has earned a 4.5-star rating on the site from a whopping 104,000 ratings. Unsurprisingly, it's also one of the top-selling pencils on Amazon, with over 10,000 sold in the last month at the time of writing.
This pencil comes with a teardrop-shaped mechanical tip and a built-in spoolie to brush and blend to perfection. One downside: There are only four shades to choose from. Still, that doesn't stop reviewers from raving about this product. "This is the best eyebrow pencil on the market," reads one review. Others note that the pigment creates a soft and natural effect that stays put throughout the day. Blond-haired buyers in particular love that the Blonde shade passes the Goldilocks test: not too light, not too dark.
Purchase the Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil on Amazon for $8.99.
Best budget eyebrow pencil: e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil
Brows can look expensive without costing a fortune. Need proof? Look to e.l.f.'s Instant Lift Brow Pencil. Fake a pricey microblading treatment or brow lamination with this super-affordable stick. On one end, use the spoolie brush to comb and lift your natural brows; on the other, use the creamy pointed pencil to shape and fill. Plus, its five shades — Blonde, Taupe, Auburn, Neutral Brown, and Deep Brown — help you closely match your hair color. If you can't find your perfect shade, try combining two shades instead — the pencils are so affordable that stocking up won't break the bank.
Despite being budget-friendly, the Instant Lift Brow Pencil is still high-quality, according to Amazon reviewers. Nearly three out of four buyers gave the item a five-star rating, with reviewers applauding it for its ease of use and staying power. Some Amazon users also compared the pencil to much pricier options on the market, noting that e.l.f.'s version might not be a perfect dupe but wins overall for its pocket-friendly price tag.
Purchase the e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil on Amazon for $3.
Best eyebrow pencil color range: NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil
Whether you're looking to experiment with your eyebrows or just fill in sparse spots, getting the color right is essential. NYX's Micro Brow Pencil comes in clutch when you're looking for a range of shades to choose from. The brand currently offers 12 options, including its golden Blonde, the richly dark Black, and plenty of brown hues for those who fall somewhere in the middle. There's even a gray shade for defining silvery, cool-toned brows.
The pencil has nearly 58,000 ratings, averaging 4.5 stars. Reviewers love the slim and precise pencil tip, with one user writing, "I have a hard time finding eyebrow pencil that allow application that looks natural. These have a very fine point and the gray shade that I use is perfect without looking harsh. I have already repeatedly bought these." Note, however, that some Amazon reviewers claim the formula is capable of smudging and may work best with a brow primer or NYX's Brow Glue.
Purchase the NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil on Amazon beginning at $8.99.
Best clean beauty eyebrow pencil: Physicians Formula Eyebrow Retractable Slim Definer Brow Pencil
Clean makeup may have attracted a lot of buzz in recent years, but Physicians Formula is one of the OGs — and according to Amazon shoppers, the brand's Eyebrow Retractable Slim Definer Brow Pencil is more than just fragrance-free, paraben-free, and vegan (not that that isn't impressive enough). The pencil is said to be easy to use, long-lasting, and, according to one reviewer, capable of doubling as an eyeliner. Overall, it's secured a 4.5-star rating from more than 250 ratings.
Like many other items in our roundup, the Physicians Formula pencil comes with a retractable tip, equipped with a spoolie on the opposite end. The pencil tip is fine and ideal for creating tiny, hair-like strokes. However, the product is only available in two shades: Taupe and Medium Brown. Therefore, it might not work for you if your brows are blond or jet-black.
Purchase the Physicians Formula Eyebrow Retractable Slim Definer Brow Pencil on Amazon beginning at $9.99.
Best eyebrow pencil for rich pigment: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Drop the phrase "Brow Wiz" in a conversation with any makeup artist, and they'll likely know exactly what you're talking about. The famous Anastasia Beverly Hills pencil has earned a following from makeup gurus and thousands of people on Amazon. To date, the Brow Wiz pencil has racked up over 23,000 ratings on the retail website, with 83% being 5 stars.
The product comes in 12 different shades, and best of all, its rich, waxy formula offers unbeatable color payoff. Translation: A little goes a long way, and just a few strokes are all it takes to create full and feathery brows. As one Amazon reviewer wrote, "I've tried literally every single eyebrow pencil on the market, with no expense to spare, and this one is the very best. It goes on smooth and lasts all day. What else can you ask for!"
Purchase the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil on Amazon for $25.00.
Best eyebrow pencil splurge: Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
If you don't mind shelling out a little more money for perfectly defined brows, the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil might be worth a try. The product is one of the top-rated brow splurges on Amazon, with an average 4.6-star rating from over 100 reviewers.
Sure, its price might be triple or even quadruple that of several other pencils on this list, but its powder-meets-wax formula and triangular tip (designed to offer both a flat edge for defined lines and a pointed tip to make filling in your eyebrows a breeze) set it apart from the pack. Plus, reviewers insist it's worth the splurge. "For years I've been using this Hourglass eyebrow liner and there hasn't been another that I've found more superior. Super easy to use and the color, Ash, is perfect. It truly provides a beautiful shape as well," wrote one Amazon customer. Another reviewer recommends the product but warns that the colors can be darker than expected, so it's important to choose your shade wisely.
Purchase the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil on Amazon beginning at $29.
How we selected products
Narrowing down the best eyebrow pencils is no easy feat, and we can't personally test every version on the market. Therefore, Amazon customer reviews were paramount in our selection, as they offer real-world feedback from a wide range of shoppers.
We prioritized products that had at least a four-star rating (the higher, the better) from users and tossed out any items that fell below this average. We also ensured that the ratings came from hundreds, if not thousands, of people so that the results weren't skewed by just a handful of reviewers. Additionally, we selected eyebrow pencils that were flagged by Amazon as being shopper favorites using the website's "Best Seller" and "Overall Pick" (a product that Amazon highlights based on its high rating, reasonable price, and stock availability) designations. Then, we dug into the customer reviews themselves, eliminating pencils that had mixed or overall negative reviews. Finally, to offer you the best selection, we made sure to feature a variety of options — from numerous color shades to a range in price points — so you can easily find a brow pencil that suits your personal needs.